Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541276
2 8 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M A t the start of this wayward 2025 Penn State football season, red- shirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer likely figured this time of year would be pretty low-key. Based on what the Nittany Lions were expected to do this fall, it stood to reason that Grunkemeyer would get some op- portunities during the nonconference portion of the schedule, watch as senior Drew Allar handled competitive Big Ten contests, and then likely get some reps — be it in garbage time or otherwise — down the stretch. It hasn't worked out that way. Rather than doing a mostly quiet apprentice- ship, Grunkemeyer is wrapping up his first month as the Nittany Lions' starting quarterback. His first three opponents in this new role are what nightmares are made of. Af- ter making his first career start in a hostile environment at Iowa, he then did not get a break at Ohio State a week later, and his Relief Relief Pitcher Pitcher Redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer strives to make the most of an unexpected promotion G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M